Adjustable tube shade roller

Abstract

A shade roller, comprised of a tube into which the motor drive is inserted into one end leaving it fully adjustable in length as it is slid in or out of the tube (Main Body), using any means of screw adjustment, shims etc. One end of the motor has a standard tip to fit into a standard shade mounting bracket, the other end is made to lock into a mounted drive block which is mounted within the main body of the roller. The locking of the motor with the drive block, can be accomplished with any means of connection that will result in the motor being unable to turn within the main body of the shade roller and at the same time leave the motor free to be adjusted in or out for the length adjustment. At the other end, a sliding shaft is inserted in much the same manner as the motor. It is fully adjustable for length as is the motor end, and is fully adjustable by similar means of shims, screw adjustments etc. as is the motor end. This shaft is not necessary to be locked into a lock block as it may turn or spin within the main body as it will. At the end of this shaft is a standard roller pin that will fit into a standard shade mounting bracket. The length adjustments, and motor replacement is designed to be accomplished fully independent and without disturbing the shade materials, and to be accomplished with the use of simple everyday tools such as screw driver or in the case of the use of shims, no tools will be required. The main body of the roller is perfectly smooth, with no bumps, ridges, grooves or indents that are damaging to the materials on the roller.

Having described our invention, we claim: 
     
       1. A window shade roller comprising: a main body including a tube, the opposite ends of said tube being open, said tube being adapted to have a window shade wound thereon;   a first shaft receivable in said one end of said tube, said first shaft including a motor tip exposed adjacent said one end of said tube;   means for drivingly coupling the first shaft to the tube so that the first shaft and the tube can rotate together;   a second shaft including a shaft tip, said second shaft being received within the other end of said tube with the shaft tip exposed at said other end of said tube;   adjustable means for limiting the innermost axial position of one of the shaft within the tube whereby the length of the window shade roller can be adjusted;   means for limiting the amount the other of the shafts can be inserted into the tube; and   said adjustable means including an insert mounted within said tube and adjustable length means cooperating with the insert to positively limit the innermost axial position of said one shaft within the tube.   
     
     
       2. A window shade roller as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjustable length means includes a screw mounted on one of said one shaft and said insert. 
     
     
       3. A window shade roller as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjustable means includes at least one shim positioned between said insert and said one shaft. 
     
     
       4. A window shade roller as defined in claim 1 wherein said limiting means includes adjustable means for limiting the innermost axial position of the other of said shafts within the tube. 
     
     
       5. A window shade roller comprising: a main body including a tube, the opposite ends of said tube being open, said tube being adapted to have a window shade wound thereon;   a first shaft receivable in one end of said tube, said first shaft including a motor tip exposed adjacent said one end of said tube;   means for limiting the amount the first shaft can be inserted into the tube;   means for drivingly coupling the first shaft to the tube so that the first shaft and the tube can rotate together;   a second shaft including a shaft tip, said second shaft being received within the other end of said tube with the shaft tip exposed adjacent said other end of said tube; and   an insert within said tube for limiting the amount the second shaft can be inserted into the tube, said insert having a recess therein of sufficient size to accommodate the shaft tip.   
     
     
       6. A window shade roller comprising: a main body including a tube, the opposite ends of said tube being open, said tube being adapted to have a window shade wound thereon;   a motor receivable in one end of said tube, said motor including a motor tip exposed adjacent said one end of said tube;   first means for drivingly coupling the motor to the tube without preventing withdrawal of the motor from the tube by pulling axially outwardly on the motor whereby the motor can be easily withdrawn from said tube by pulling the motor out of the tube;   a shaft including a shaft tip, said shaft being received within the other end of said tube with the shaft tip exposed adjacent said other end of said tube;   means for limiting the amount the shaft can be inserted into the tube;   means for limiting the amount the motor can be inserted into the tube; and   said first means including a drive block within said tube and affixed to the tube so as to prevent relative rotation therebetween and cooperating means on said motor and said drive block for drivingly coupling the motor to the drive block for rotation together.   
     
     
       7. A window shade roller as defined in claim 6 wherein said cooperating means includes a projection on one of said motor and said drive block and a cooperating recess on the other of said motor and said drive block, said recess being adapted to receive said projection to couple the motor to the drive block for rotation together. 
     
     
       8. A window shade roller comprising: a main body including a tube, the opposite ends of said tube being open, said tube being adapted to have a window shade wound thereon;   a motor receivable in one end of said tube, said motor including a motor tip exposed adjacent said one end of said tube;   first means for drivingly coupling the motor to the tube without preventing withdrawal of the motor from the tube by pulling axially outwardly on the motor whereby the motor can be easily withdrawn from said tube by pulling the motor out of the tube;   a shaft including a shaft tip, said shaft being received within the other end of said tube with the shaft tip exposed adjacent said other end of said tube;   means for limiting the amount the shaft can be inserted into the tube;   means for limiting the amount the motor can be inserted into the tube; and   said limiting means for said shaft including an insert within said tube, said insert having a recess of sufficient size to fully receive said shaft tip.   
     
     
       9. A window shade roller as defined in claim 8 wherein said first means includes a drive block within said tube and affixed to the tube so as to prevent relative rotation therebetween and cooperating means on said motor and said drive block for drivingly coupling the motor to the drive block for rotation together, said cooperating means includes a projection on one of said motor and said drive block and a cooperating recess on the other of said motor and said drive block, said recess being adapted to receive said projection to thereby couple the motor and the drive block for rotation together, and at least one of said limiting means is adjustable whereby the length of the window shade roller can be adjusted. 
     
     
       10. A window shade roller comprising: a main body including a tube, the opposite ends of said tube being open, said tube being adapted to have a window shade would thereon;   a motor receivable in one end of said tube, said motor including a motor tip exposed adjacent said one end of said tube;   first means for drivingly coupling the motor to the tube without preventing withdrawal of the motor from the tube by pulling axially outwardly on the motor whereby the motor can be easily withdrawn from said tube by pulling the motor out of the tube;   a shaft including a shaft tip, said shaft being received within the other end of said tube with the shaft tip exposed adjacent said other end of said tube;   means for limiting the amount the shaft can be inserted into the tube;   means for limiting the amount the motor can be inserted into the tube; and   at least one of said limiting means being adjustable whereby the length of the window shade roller can be adjusted, said adjustable limiting means including an insert within said tube and fixed axially relative to said tube and adjustable length means cooperating with the insert to positively limit the amount the one of said motor and said shaft which is associated with the adjustable limiting means can be inserted into said tube.   
     
     
       11. A method of making a window shade roller of the desired length comprising: providing an open-ended tube, an insert in the tube, a recess in the tube opening toward one end of the tube, and a shaft tip at one end of the shaft with said one end of the shaft being inserted into one end of the tube, the shaft tip being received in said recess, and the amount the shaft can be inserted into the tube being limited by the insert;   cutting the tube and the shaft to the desired length while the shaft is inserted into the tube with the shaft tip in said recess;   withdrawing the cut shaft from the cut tube; and   inserting the other end of the cut shaft into the cut tube with the insert limiting the amount that the shaft can be inserted into the tube.